By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Maryland legislators worked throughout the day to pass as many bills as they could before session ended at midnight on April 7. The legislative session was an eventful one with drastic federal actions looming over Maryland and balancing the budget remaining the topic of discussion throughout the 2025 session.
Around 880 bills were passed by the Maryland legislature during the 225 session and are now before the governor.
The following is a reflection on 10 bills from this legislative session Marylanders should know about.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 State Budget
The FY 2026 State Budget bills as agreed upon by a conference committee on the day of Sine Die, balance the budget through $1.5 billion in general fund reductions, including $543 million related with the Budget Reconciliation Funding Act (BRFA), and added $224 million in general funds. At the start of the session, the state faced a budget deficit of $3 billion.
Tension pursued throughout the session on how best to balance the budget without putting the weight on Marylanders via taxes and fees. Ultimately, Maryland leaders decided to raise certain taxes and fees that would not impact the average Marylanders but the wealthier counterparts of the state.
A highlight of the session for State Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Md.-45) was getting through the budget process and balancing the budget.
“We’re protecting the values that many of the people that elected us care about,” Smith concerning the budget. “In terms of income taxes, most people will see either no change in their income taxes or a slight reduction. That’s really about ensuring that the wealthiest pay their fair share.”
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
Budget cuts proposed by Gov. Moore was a place of tension throughout the session among legislators. Many argued that education funds are needed more than ever with federal intentions to get rid of the Department of Education.
Through the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, House Bill 504, reduces state funds for public schools in the state by $44.6 million in FY 2026, and $56 million by FY 2030. Special fund revenues will increase by $909,100 in FY 2026, and $2.8 million in FY 2027.
The bill will go into effect on July 1.
Reparations Commission
The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (LBCMD) led an initiative to create a reparations commission to study and propose various recommendations on how Maryland can redress the harms of the enslavement of African Americans and the types of reparations that may be appropriate. Reports of the commission’s findings and recommendations would not be expected until 2027.
Despite diversity, equity and inclusion roll backs throughout the country, Maryland legislators showed that in this state, diversity, equity and inclusion matters.
“I’m really proud of the efforts and legacy of the legislative Black caucus this year,” said State Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Md.-41). “We got two of our major priority bills through— the Second Look Act and a commission on reparations.”
The Second Look Act provides incarcerated persons that have been imprisoned for at least 20 years the opportunity to have their sentence reduced and essentially get another chance at living in society.
The Second Look Act will go into effect on Oct. 1.
“Being the largest Black Caucus in the country, we had to do something transformative this session,” said Ruff. “To show not only the strength of our caucus but where our hearts lie, where our values lie.”
Ruff noted how important it is during a legislative session with Republican opposition, a steep federal budget and federal roll backs of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, that Maryland’s equity and inclusion efforts persist.
The reparations commission bill will go into effect on July 1, if signed by the governor.
Health Equity Dashboard
Another legislative initiative of the LBCMD, was to create a health equity dashboard. SB 684 and HB 1100 require the Maryland Department of Health to create an understandable and acceptable graphic data dashboard that incorporates health disparity data broken up by race, ethnicity and gender.
The dashboard will include data on cardiovascular disease, mental health, substance use and sexually transmitted infection. The data board will be updated quarterly.
The bill, if signed, will go into effect on Oct. 1.
Next Generation Energy Act
The legislature considered a larger bill on clean energy including ending unnecessary expansion of gas substitution infrastructure, and implementing key utility regulations to lower bills across the state. The bill makes an array of changes, including “mandating gas companies to provide additional information in proposed gas infrastructure replacement plans to the Public Service Commission (PSC), and adds additional criteria necessary for PSC to approve such plans.”
The bill will be effective, if signed, on June 1.
Immigration Bills
HB 1222, a bill that would Immigration Enforcement (Maryland Values Act) would help secure people’s data. This bill applies not to ICE exclusively, or in particular, but any entity that may seek personal data. The bill was passed at 11: 38 p.m. on April 7.
The bill was passed around 11:38 p.m. on April 7, a few minutes of session. It will go into effect on June 1.
HB1006 and SB828, Protecting Sensitive Locations Act was passed by a 34-13 at 11:53 p.m on April 7.
This legislation will go into effect on June 1.
Tax Reconciliation Program
The Maryland Fair Taxation for Justice-Involved Individuals Act, HB 634, if signed, will create the Income Tax Reconciliation Program in Maryland to permit individual who has been convicted of a crime to create installment payment plans and get a waiver of interest and penalties that accumulate for unpaid income tax due for a taxable year after Dec. 31, 2024, but before Jan. 1, 2030. The state comptroller would oversee the program.
The bill, if signed, will be effective on July 1.
Nonprofit Organization Navigator
SB 365, is an emergency bill that aims to establish a nonprofit organization navigator within the Department of Commerce that would help ensure eligible nonprofits are able to apply and have a better chance at securing state grants. The navigator will help address and resolve challenges within the state’s grant process and represent nonprofit worries and interests.
The legislation will be effective immediately upon signature.
Military Kids
SB 601, will ease the process through which dependent military children transfer schools. It requires school systems to permit the child of military personnel to apply for advanced enrollment in a local school.
The bill, if signed, will go into effect on July 1.
Consumer Protection Work Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
HB 956, if signed, will establish a workgroup on AI implementation, mandating the workgroup oversee and make recommendations on the regulation of AI, how its used in policies, by the private sector and more. The bill requires the workgroup to make their recommendations known to certain committees by July 1, 2026.
The bill will go into effect on July 1.